RELEVANT FOR TODAY’S ISSUES: Given the current international rise of authoritarianism and attacks on ethnic minorities, the story of the Sephardi Jews in the 20th century is as relevant as ever. It also will remind people of what ethnic hatred really looks like in its most extreme forms.

EVEN-HANDED: The authors are careful to honestly present the injustices that Arab Muslims experienced at the hands of the colonial powers, the Ottomans, the British and the French. They are also not shy about addressing injustices perpetrated by both sides, the Jews included, during the 1948-9 war for the State of Israel.

DEEPLY AFFECTING: The twenty-eight personal stories of the expulsions are profoundly moving, and not nearly as well-known as they should be. This book will fill a void in the popular knowledge of this hugely important period. It sheds a great deal of light on current affairs, not just on the past.

BROAD INTEREST: Sephardic Voices will be a must-read for anyone interested in history, politics and human rights. The events are intertwined with World War II, the Holocaust, and imperialism, and people interested in those topics are many.

PRESTIGIOUS AUTHORS: Richard Stursberg is a former head of the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) and has served in numerous public media roles in Canada for decades. Professor Henry Green is a distinguished academic and leader in the Jewish community in the United States who has studied this topic for many years. They will bring the attention it deserves.

HOLIDAYS AND JEWISH BOOK FAIRS: The book will arrive just in time for the key Jewish holidays and Book Fairs in North America, Great Britain and Israel